15 Down

I've been using MFP for about a month now and I've lost almost 15 pounds.

Yup, I'm pretty proud.

That means I've lost 20 pounds so far this year, averaging about 10 pounds a month.

That's awesome work and let me tell you, I've worked for it!

My goal right now is to lost another 10 pounds by the end of March.

I'm pretty sure I can do it. =)

Seven Months

A 7 months old Henry...

...has two front teeth that can visibly be seen every time he smiles.

...talks and screams and giggles and is very, very loud (pretty much all of the time).

...sits up on his own and absolutely hates laying down.

...is on the move and (almost) crawling both forward and backwards.

...favorite toys are his crawling ball, his music board and his books.

...eats like a horse.

...knows his name.

...knows the word 'no' and finds it funny.

...is still very attached to his Mama.

...laughs at just about everything but especially the dog.

...loves playing peek-a-boo.

...steals every remote and cell phone that's within reach.

...grabs at everything.

...rides in the shopping cart, his big boy car seat and the stroller with no issues at all.

...keeps changing and growing right before our eyes so quickly that we can hardly stand it.

Locks of Love

Today my bestest and I cut and donated our hair to Locks of Love.

Here is my before picture!

And here I am after!

If you've ever considered donating your hair, I would highly recommend it. You have a sense of accomplishment knowing that someone is going to be so happy to have this hair that you can so easily grow back out. I cut off a total of 15 inches. That's a lot of hair! If you want to know the truth, I'm going to miss it from time to time but I don't regret it a bit. Besides, the best way to feel love is to give love.

I am me

I wish I had a better memory, but I don't.

I often forget even the most important of details and well...that's why I blog.

I know that my random rambles mean nothing to most people.

I don't write for an audience.

I write because it's part of who I am.

It always has been and it will always be.

I write because without written words (or typed, rather), I would go crazy with all the stuff in my head.

I write because it's an addiction. Truly.

I get an itch that only my moving fingers across the keyboard can fix.

I share because this is who I am.

I'm not ashamed to let anyone into the details of my life.

I am an over-achiever and unfortunately, an over-eater.

I am a mother and a wife, a daughter and a grand-daughter.

I hate almost everything 'modern' and I'm kinda old fashioned.

I am a Christian and I'm not afraid to admit it.

I suck at sticking with things.

I give up to easy.

I love the color orange, popcorn and photography.

I am forgiven.

I am loved.

I am a writer, a photographer and sometimes an artist.

I don't claim to be good at any of it.

I am me...

Life

I have the very best friends in the world. Seriously.

And my husband? Well, he's pretty much perfect too.

God, I love my life! <3

One Word

Stephanie tagged me so I thought I'd play along. Feel free to play too, I'm not going to tag any of you...just consider yourself tagged!

Here are the rules - answer the 35 questions below with just one word. Tag some of your favorite bloggers so they can join in on the fun!

1. Where is your cell phone? Couch

2. Your hair? Annoying

3. Your mother? Excused

4. Your father? Sad

5. Your favorite food? Skyline

6. Your dream last night? Forgotten

7. Your favorite drink? Coke

8. Your dream/goal? Happiness

9. What room are you in? Living

10. Your hobby? Photography

11. Your fear? Failing

12. Where do you want to be in six years? Here

13. Where were you last night? Couch

14. Something that you aren't? Dumb

15. Muffins? Cappuccino

16. Wish list item? Studio

17. Where did you grow up? Miamisburg

18. Last thing you did? Clean

19. What are you wearing? Jeans

20. Your TV? Grimm

21. Your pets? Asleep

22. Friends? Perfect

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? Everywhere

25. Missing someone? Always

26. Vehicle? Buick

27. Something you're not wearing? Socks

28. Your favorite store? Penney's

29. Your favorite color? Orange

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Forget

32. Your best friend? Amazing

33. One place that I could go over and over? Virginia

34. One person who emails you regularly? Brandon

35. Favorite place to eat? Papa's

Lazy Day

Henry and I had a lazy day today.

He has just discovered his books...

and he loves them.

And I love that he does.

Our Love Story

With Valentine's day right around the corner, everyone seems to twist their minds around hearts and roses and the one they love. Allison and Stephanie both posted this little questionnaire about their significant others and I thought I would too. I just love sharing about Jeremy and I because he is so special and important to me. He is my soul-mate and the one person who I can share absolutely anything with. Not only is he the father of my children and my partner for life, but he is my best friend. So on to it, feel free to steal the questions and write about your own significant other!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We will have been together four years this coming April.

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

Jeremy was talking to my best friend at the time but they both knew right away that there was no way that they were compatible. She told him, 'I know someone perfect for you' and ta-da! Wouldn't you know that she was right? After we met we did not spend one day apart (literally) until I went away for a youth trip. Even now, 4 years later, you could count on 2 hands the total amount of days or nights we've spent apart.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

We were married for 3 years on December 23rd.

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?

We were married at Friendship Baptist Church at one of the smallest wedding ceremony's you could have. I wore my wedding dress, he wore his tux and we were married in front of a total of 17 people; all immediate family with the exception of our pastor, his wife and Ken and Carmen (two people in which we love with all of our hearts).

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

Jeremy calls me 'Genevieve' from time to time and we throw 'booger' back and forth fairly often. Other than that, our nicknames are just those typical used by couples (babe, baby, sweetie...etc).

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

This is sooo hard! There are so many things I love about Jeremy.

1. He gets me. He gets us. He's okay with the fact that I say what's on my mind most of the time and don't give a crap what other people think. He has the same lifestyle as I do and when someone says, "OMG, you don't watch Jersey Shore?!" we can both look at them like their idiots for watching such trash. (Sorry, but it's true) He doesn't need to be in the 'in' crowd and he doesn't need to do typical 'guy' stuff with his old friends. We are perfect for one another.

2. He's so smart. Seriously. He's a master at trivia and he can tell you how so many things work. He loves learning new things and he doesn't feel ashamed to admit when he doesn't know how to do something. He's handy and he's so good at so many things.

3. He's a man; a real man. He does everything he can to support his family. He loves me endlessly even when I'm grumpy or a nag. He is a wonderful father and works so hard to make sure Henry has a great life. He gets up early and goes to bed late and barely gets a break in between. All the while he makes sure he takes time to make sure that Henry and I are loved and well...that's so important!

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

He took me out to lunch for chinese food and then we went and saw 'Step Brothers' in the theater, on the way back he took me to the Eldean Bridge in Troy that we had frequented before and while there he took me below it by the creek. He got down on one knee, pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him and (obviously) I said yes! The first person I called was Ken because Jeremy had informed me that he had asked Ken's permission to marry me. I was just smitten!

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

He's a flowers and chocolate and random other things type of guy. We're not a typical 'romantic' couple. Rose petals and champagne don't set a mood, the person you're with does...so why waste your time?

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

We are definitely a couch and movie couple, but we love having a nice dinner out somewhere every once in awhile!

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant other one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I'd like to travel overseas, have a bazillion more 'weddings' and just be a close, happy family who laughs no matter what!

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

We have no plans. We'll probably do dinner or something.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Nadda.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Be as selfless as possible, laugh as often as you can and have a little pillow talk every night! It's so important to communicate!

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

You know there's no way I can show you just one, right?

Love is... being silly, laughing and marrying your very best friend.

Love is...spending your wedding night in the emergency room...and not caring a bit.

Love is...being there through the easy times and the hard times while building a life and a future together.

Sleep

There's something to be said about sleep.

Or lack there of.

I feel like that the lacking is the main saying around here lately. I am so tired. Worn out. Exhausted. Call it whatever you may.

If Henry is sleeping I can't get my mind to stop.

What if something goes wrong with the house?

What if we move in and it's not what we thought it would be?

What if the dog hates it?

How am I going to decorate?

Should I paint now or just wait?

Will be have time to do what we need?

If I'm sleeping, Henry is not.

He cries.

He coughs.

Oh, did I mention he cries?

If we're both sleeping that means...

Jeremy is taking up half the bed,

Mason is taking up a third and

Henry is taking up the rest.

And me? Well, I'm usually curled up into a ball in a corner somewhere wishing that I didn't have to try to twist my body into some crazy pretzel like shape just to lay down in my own bed.

Yup. That's been the last few weeks.

Like I said. Tired. Exhausted...etc. I'm going to try to go to bed. Henry is asleep (in his crib, mind you) and maybe if I squeeze my eyes shut really hard, I can get my mind to sleep too.

& then there were three.

Everyone in the Ovenshire household is sick tonight. Jeremy started it out with a sinus infection, then I developed a sore throat and now poor little Henry has a mix of the two I think. I'm hoping tomorrow we'll all wake up and feel magically better...being sick is for the birds.

It's felt like summer out the past two days. I think my sore throat can be partially blamed for the weather change, especially since the sunshine has lured me out of the house and on daily walks. I've been enjoying my walks (and I think Henry has too) but I think we both learned the hard way that taking both the stroller and the dog is a recipe for disaster. I can't wait for spring and summer to be here so we can spend more time outdoors.

I did have a pleasant surprise from the sheriff's office today. They have our deed back and ready for us to pick up. Once we make our final payment on the house, the house will officially be ours. I wish that meant we could officially move in, but that's still going to take a few weeks. However, I think Brandon will be able to see the place when he's home. I told you God had timed crazier things!

I'm really just trying to pass time right now. My entire head hurts and I want so badly just to go to bed. But I know that Henry will have none of that and so I've still got a couple of hours to kill before bedtime. Here's to hoping that tomorrow will be better.

January

Tomorrow is the last day of January. Time sure is passing quickly! I'm happy to say that I've been kicking butt so far this year. Great changes have taken place and I'm excited for what is yet to come in the coming year.

As for the current date, I have lost 12 pounds. That's an average of 3 pounds a week! I am so glad that my cousin introduced me to MyFitnessPal! I started using it last Sunday to track my food and exercise and I'm loving it!! I love the idea of being able to eat more if you exercise more in a day. It pretty much makes planning my day's routine sooo easy! There are certain days that we usually go out with friends and such and although I still try to eat healthier on those nights out, I can burn some calories earlier in the day so that I have extra to blow that evening. It's also nice being able to still eat greasy pizza here and there knowing you'll still be below your fat and calorie count for the day. Like I said, I love it! Wish me luck as I continue on this journey!

In other news we were given a projected estimate of two weeks on our paperwork to be finished and cleared for our house! I'm really hoping and praying that Brandon will get to see the place when he's home on leave in early March. I know it's stretching it but I've seen God time crazier things! I'm so anxious to move in but if you want me to be honest, I haven't even begun to THINK about packing and moving things. Our plan is to go in and clean real good and then move and put most things away as we do. I think it'll be easier to take our time, especially with Henry in tow.

Mentioning my little spider monkey. I'm fairly certain that he'll be on the move pretty soon! The poor guy tries so very hard and he's found reverse but he just can't seem to get his butt in drive. He's been talking a lot more lately and my grandmother and I swear he says 'mommy' when he's really upset. I know it's probably a fluke but I like to pretend anyway! He's the hungriest little boy I've ever seen and no matter how much or often we feed him he still could eat more although he's not gained any weight. I'll be glad when he's out of the baby food stage!

I am so happy and blessed with the way life has been headed this year. I know that there will be troubles and trials to come but through it all, I will remember to thank God because it is He who has given me this wonderful life!

A Reflection from My Husband

My husband is currently taking an english class and had to write about a memory. He wrote this paper and then I went back and edited it for him, adding a few details and rearranging things where they flowed a little better. Either way, this is his memory and I was so touched by reading it. I thought you might be too.

A Reflection by Jeremy Ovenshire

I was short of breath, scared, nervous, and trembling. My wife and I had at this point been separated for the first time in four days. “Now if you don’t feel good, don’t hesitate to sit on the floor’ they told me. This did nothing to reassure my feelings.

The bench where I sat could have been pulled from beneath me and I would have never known. The sweat beaded along my forehead and palms and as the desk nurse spoke to me, I gave her the traditional polite smile and nod, pretending to have known what she had said. The clock on the wall ticked and as it did, it seemed like days passed by, everything in my surrounding world running together. A voice brought me back to the present; “Mr. Ovenshire, we’re ready for you now.” I didn’t move. I heard the voice again and without volunteering my muscles, I started moving. Here we go.

They led me into a room that was covered in blue. It seemed so cold, like a walk-in freezer. When I think back on it now, I’m sure it wasn’t quite that cold but anything would seem that cold when a cold sweat had slowly began covering your body. I sat down and the only things that didn’t blur in front of my eyes were my wife and the blue curtain that covered her from the neck down. It had been such a long week and although I was sitting here, knowing that it was happening, it was hard to believe that the moment had finally come.

My wife had called me four days prior while I was at work, telling me that I would need to leave early because her doctor had instructed her that she was to go straight to the hospital. She was eight months pregnant with our first child and during her pregnancy she had developed a gallbladder dysfunction that caused her to itch severely. As miserable as it was for her, the more severe effect was an increased chance of miscarriage during the last three weeks of pregnancy. Needless to say, I was scared shitless.

The first night in the hospital room was unnerving. They gave my wife the first of two steroid shots to help assure that our child’s lungs would be fully developed, explained what would be happening in the next couple of days and mostly just monitored the baby. The second day was easy and we mostly just sat around and rested, although truthfully, I was very close to coming undone.

The third morning they started inducing my wife’s labor. Sixteen hours later she was having contractions but had no signs of progress so they let her eat and sleep and restarted the induction again this morning. She labored for most of the day, the contractions coming hard and fast. At 7:30 p.m. the nurse came into the room, explaining that the doctor found it best to follow through at this point with a c-section. As disappointed as it was, we were both okay with that at this point. Like I said, it had been a long week.

Now it seemed like voices were coming from everywhere, some talking to my wife and others talking to me, but mostly they were just talking to one another. I slowly started to tune them in one by one, like a radio dial turning in my fogged head. It didn’t take me long to realize that they weren’t talking about things of great importance. One mentioned the recent vacation they took and another talked about what she had had for lunch. This upset me. This wasn’t social time to me, this was serious time and I wanted them to be serious!

As the time passed, I was becoming very close to saying something about how I didn’t appreciate the lack of care they were showing for my wife, myself and my child when the doctor in charge started talking about his remote control.

“I got this awesome remote for my television last week,” he said.
“Oh yeah?” one of the nurses replied.
“Yeah, I paid over four hundred dollars for it but you wouldn’t believe the things it does!”

I had had it now. As I opened my mouth to blurt out something that probably would have been completely ridiculous and uncalled for, I heard the faint cry of a baby. Everything up to that point in my life completely stopped and although it’s apparently not possible, I’m sure that time stood still. The lack of concern that I was upset about twenty seconds earlier was completely forgotten and I looked over at my wife and started to cry.

I heard them announce that it was a boy and then called the time at 8:33 p.m. The rest of the night from there was mostly a blur. All of the obvious things happened; they measured and weighed him and I cut the umbilical cord. They cleaned him up and cleaned out his airways and as they sewed my wife back together they finally handed him to me. As I looked down at this small child, swaddled in those hospital pink and blue blankets, I just couldn’t believe that he was mine. Six months later I still look at him from time to time with disbelief that this small miracle is here because of me. I’ve heard people say that you don’t know what love is until you have a child and from my personal experience, there is so much truth in those words.

Tag!

I was tagged by my cousin Stephanie and it looked like fun so I'm playing along!

The Rules

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.
4. Tag eleven people and link them on your post (I don't have 11 people so do what you can, with what you have).
5. Let them know you've tagged them.
Here are 11 fun facts about myself
1. I love cute socks and I'm totally okay with getting them at the Dollar Tree.
2. My favorite colors are orange, pink and green. In that order.
3. I love mornings. I love getting up when the house is silent and I can just focus on me and God.
4. I really do not like sleep. I like getting enough sleep but beyond that I get annoyed with people who take naps and sleep until noon. I feel like you're sleeping your life away.
5. I love old stuff. I love old jewelry, old bottles, old books, old furniture...well, you get the idea.
6. I'm totally crafty. My husband thinks I'm crazy most of the time but I can turn just about anything into something if you give me enough time.
7. I love to cook and most of the time I'm good at it. One day I'd really like to learn how to decorate cakes and such.
8. I love to write. I feel like you can express yourself so much better through written word than through spoken word - it's so much more thought out and in depth.
9. My favorite food is Skyline Chili. I just love it.
10. I get so annoyed with people who refuse to be original. March to your own drum and stop copying what everyone else is doing.
11. My greatest goal in life is to always give a person a chance. People are, for the most part, good and I think if you try hard enough, you can see the good in everyone.

Now on to 11 questions from Stephanie:

1. When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?
I'm usually browsing the internet, taking photos or crocheting.
2. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
Ripples and Waves - same as my blog. I think in life everything, big or small, effects you in some way - just like water.
3. What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?
This is kind of hard to admit. I was watching 'My Fair Wedding' today and I seriously started bawling. I guess sometimes I wish my wedding would have been something more.
4. What story does your family always tell about you?
My grandmother is always telling me stories about when she grew up - the farm, the little school house she attended, her family and friends and all the simple yet wonderful times they had.
5. What is one of your favorite quotes?
My favorite saying is 'Love Never Fails' and one of these days I will have it tattooed on my foot like I've always wanted. As far as quotes go, I'm obsessed with quotes so picking one would be impossible.
6. What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity?
I love photography. Although I worked at a studio for about a year, I claim to be self-taught. If I learned anything while working at the studio, I learned that most people just want to put you in a box and then punish you for going outside of that box. I don't claim to be good and I'm still learning and building up some of the basics of the art but I love it - and that's all that matters.
7. What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
I HATE cleaning out the cat box. Matter of fact, it's my husband's only job.
8. What is your favorite form of exercise?
I love to go hiking. I love to get out and explore and find places that you can only go by foot.
9. What was your favorite food when you were a child?
I'm not really sure but there's lots of pictures of me dipping EVERYTHING into ketchup - so probably ketchup!
10. What’s your least favorite mode of transportation?
I'm usually not too crazy about bus rides; too many people in a confined space.
11. What sound do you love?
I love listening to the ocean, whether I'm actually there or not.

Now my questions for you ladies:

1. What is your greatest memory?
2. What is your favorite book?
3. How old were you when you started dating?
4. If you could go any place in the world, where would you go?
5. If you could have your dream home, what kind of home would it be?
6. Edward or Jacob?
7. If you knew you could pull it off, would you rather have long hair or short?
8. If you could choose an era to live in, what would it be?
9. What is the one thing you forget the most?
10. What is the number one thing on your wishlist right now?
11. Did you know that if I tagged you in this post you should smile because you are loved? =)


And now it's your turn Allison, Amber, and Roman and Asher's Momma!

New Year, New Changes

Can you believe that we're 22 days into 2012?! I sure can't! Still, 22 days into the new year and there's already been quite a few changes and blessings taking place in my family's life.

Henry turned 6 months old.

I got a raise at work.

Jeremy went back to school.

We bought our first house.

I lost 5 pounds.

Mason turned 2.

We welcomed a new nephew into the world.

I started a 52 week photo project.

It's easy to see that we are beyond blessed! My main point of this post is that little number 5 that snuck its way into that list. I've been inspired and excited for my best friend who is training for a marathon this year. I watched my brother as he lost probably 100 pounds if not more in order to enlist in the Army. Just this morning I read my cousin's inspiring story on how she decided that enough was enough and has been losing weight as well.

I've always struggled with my weight. I was always heavier than all the other kids when I was in school and although I was never really picked on, it always bothered me. When I was 19 or 20 I managed to lose quite a bit of weight but it was the wrong way and for the wrong reasons. Over the past 4 or 5 years, I've pretty much put every last bit of that weight that I lost back on. It seems like no matter what diet I put myself on or how hard I try, I never get anywhere and if I do get anywhere, it's definitely not quick.

So this year I decided it wasn't about the weight. I have no one to impress, I have a husband who is going to love me no matter how heavy I am. Instead it's about my health and my well being and my ability to be the best mom I can be for my son. So that means working hard for what I want - a healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight, not only for me, but for him. I know that it's going to take time and I think that if I focus less on the scale and more on how hard I'm working to just be a better me, it will be easier than what it has before.

So here's to a new year. He's to losing 5 pounds in 22 days, to working hard for what you want and knowing that eventually, your hard work will pay off!

Six Months Deep

Henry is officially half of a year old.

Wow that's hard to believe! Here I stand six months deep into parenthood and there are still days that I wonder if I know what the heck I'm doing. My daily prayer is that I succeed at this job that God has blessed me with, that my little boy will grow up happy, respectful and God-fearing because of my teachings. Talk about responsibility!

His curiosity highlights my every day. His little eyes get so bright with wonder and I'm never failed to be amazed at the intensity something so simple can bring to his life. I can't even begin to explain how much I love him.

His little smile melts my heart. There is really no feeling in this world that compares to seeing your child's face, wide with a smile, just because he sees you, knows you. My favorite part of the day is picking him up out of his crib when he wakes up in the morning...and that smile. Just for me. I swoon.

I find every little thing he does as cute as can be. I'm so proud of him and his little accomplishments. I'm proud when I watch him push himself from one end of the room to the other, or sit up for long periods of time, playing with his toys. It's hard to believe that he was so dependent on me just a few months ago. Now his personality shines and the person he is is beginning to show in everything he does.

I couldn't ask for a better little family. We are happy, healthy and blessed beyond measure. God has great things in store for us, I know. I am just humbled by His ability to shower us with blessings, most completely unexpected. I'm excited for us to move into our new home, to get settled and have a place to call our own. In the meantime, I'm just focusing on enjoying this little boy. I know the next 6 months are going to be just as wonderful as the last.

Impatience

It'll be a week tomorrow since we bought our home. It sucks not being able to be in it, moving or cleaning or decorating or SOMETHING. I'm impatient and I'm having issues concentrating on anything else. I have so many ideas for decorations and so many little DIY projects that I can't wait to start on...but I just don't have the room here to even begin. The rain and the cold weather isn't helping much either. I suppose I should just breathe and force myself to push it all in the back of my mind and instead focus on the here and now. God has blessed us so much with what we've been given that I should really have no room for complaints or impatience.

We were able to walk through it on Saturday night. Keep in mind, we bought this house sight unseen, judging whether or not it would be a good purchase by word of mouth and the opinions of those who had seen it. It is gorgeous inside. The man who owned it had completely gutted the house. He put in new insulation and drywall, redid the plumbing and electric and also put in a 2nd bathroom. There are brand new wood floors, newly painted walls, brand new appliances (hooray! a dishwasher!) new cabinets, counter tops and new windows. The roof, water heater and furnace were all also just put in within the last five years. Like I said, gorgeous! Our bedroom alone is half the size of our apartment right now and although the listing said 6 rooms, when I counted them there were more like 8 or 9.

There are no immediate improvements necessary and that alone is the biggest blessing ever. We're hoping that after we get our tax return, we can buy a new couch and possibly a new entertainment center and my goal is to have the siding put up before Henry's birthday. The upstairs needs new carpet and possibly some paint but I'm not going to worry about it for now. We can work on making everything ours over time. The master bath also needs finished but we have a 2nd brand new bathroom so we're not going to worry about it much either. We want to make sure we can afford to get exactly what we want in there so it's probably going to take some saving again on our part.

I've been pinning ideas here and there on Pinterest and making a list of crochet things that I'd like to make for decorating purposes. I'm just sooooo excited. Jeremy made a valid point the other night; we both have good jobs, insurance, a savings account, a home, a wonderful son and a dog...we are truly living the American dream! Mentioning dogs: we're also going to get another dog after we move. I can't wait because this time I get to pick the breed and I think I'm finally going to get me a Siberian Husky. I had one as a child and I just loved her and I can't wait to have another. Not to mention, Henry needs a big dog to love on!

So needless to say, my mind is preoccupied with all this house stuff. Henry will be 6 months old in 2 days. I can't believe how big he is getting but I'm also having a hard time concentrating on his half birthday pictures. Ugh. Someone call the bank and tell them to get this paper work finished!

Henry's First Snow

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment, then where is it to be found?" -J.B. Priestley

While this wasn't 'technically' Henry's first snow, the first came and went before he ever had a chance to experience it so I just don't think it counts. He loved it. I carried him around for a few minutes and let him get a feel for the cool air and little flakes landing on his face and he just stared at this new, white world in awe.

When I finally put him down in it where he could look and feel and taste this fluffy white stuff he just smiled and laughed. He kept looking at me with this questioning look though, like he wasn't quite sure he should be having so much fun in something so wet and cold.

Daddy even came home from work just in time to see him rolling around on the ground, covering himself in snow. We only stayed out for a few minutes, the wind was becoming something fierce and his little face started turning a bright pink. I wouldn't trade memories like this for the world though. The wonder and amazement in his little eyes...while I was uploading the pictures I just couldn't stop smiling. His innocence and joy in life is inspiring and so wonderful. God has truly blessed me!

Our New Home

We bought a house today! We went to the auction prepared to spend quite a bit to get it and only spent $10,000!!!! It's 3 bedrooms, 1 bath. It has a 2 car garage, fenced in back yard and a swing set and playhouse in the back. It needs some tlc on the outside but has been completely remodeled on the inside. I'm so excited! It'll be a month or so before we get to do anything with it and I'm praying that everything goes well between now and then. I am still a bit in shock and I can't believe that we did it...but we did! My prayer was that if it was God's will we'd get it and if not, we wouldn't so it must be His will. He is soooo good! I can't tell you how excited I am! Not to mention - no rent and no mortgage?? Talk about lucky ducks!

Gabriel :: 5 days new.

I had the pleasure of photographing my new nephew. He was so sweet although completely against having his picture taken I think.

1:5

The sky was beautiful tonight. As we drove to Miamisburg to meet my new nephew, I couldn't help but be drawn to it. There were blues and pinks and oranges...and blues (did I mention the blues?). I swear Crayola's 'Robin's Egg' just blew up all over the sky.

He was beautiful. My nephew I mean. I was in awe at how different he was from Henry when he was born. Not only was he 2lbs heavier and almost 6 inches longer, but they looked so completely different. I know that may be a 'duh' kind of comment but my brother and I always looked somewhat alike and when I look at his little boy, I see nothing of myself in him. God truly is a master creator, molding each of us into something unique and special. Gabriel has no eyelashes...while Henry has eyelashes that goes for miles. It is just amazing to me.

Henry was a real turd for me today. He's teething and cranky and I had two poop blow-ups and more spit-up than I can account for. Here at 11 p.m. I am so tired and ready for bed. I'm trying to pretend that another week hasn't ended and I have to go back to work for the weekend tomorrow. The photo above was probably the happiest he was all day. He loves playing in his excersaucer but his feet don't really reach and it is usually short lived because I hate seeing him bounce from his toes on one foot to his toes on the other. He tries so hard and yet gets no where! I am so blessed that God gave me this little boy. He is happy and healthy and I couldn't imagine loving anything more.

The (long) short version of 2011

January: I was 2 months pregnant and miserably sick day and night. I started using my camera on manual and haven't turned the dial since. Mason turned one and Brandon Heath's new CD came out. Jeremy and I traveled to Detroit to visit family and attended the Detroit Auto Show.

February: I was 3 months pregnant and still miserably sick day and night but I felt him move for the very fist time. We had so much snow and ice that our area was in a level 3 snow emergency for several days. Brandon came home for a couple of weeks! Jeremy and I saw Brandon Heath and Toby Mac in concert with friends.

March: I was 4 months pregnant and (you guessed it) still miserably sick day and night. I endured my first cat-scan and had the crap scared out of me to find out that I had pneumonia. The world was shook by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. Jeremy and I as well as his parents drove to Florida and boarded a cruise ship for a glorious vacation to Jamaica and Haiti.

April: I was 5 months pregnant and starting to feel better but plagued by crazy charlie horses every night in my sleep. My feet started itching and we found out that our Peanut was a BOY!

May: I was 6 months pregnant and my morning sickness was completely gone. My feet were still itching and it was spreading to my stomach and palms. I photographed my first wedding. I set up Henry's crib and had my church baby shower. I said farewell to one job and hello to another that would allow me to stay home during the week when Henry was born. Jeremy also bought Henry his very first gun.

June: I was 7 months pregnant and itching from head to toe. I photographed my cousin's wedding was miserable the entire time, but felt so blessed that she allowed me to do it. Old friends and I wept as a hero I went to school with was killed at war. Jeremy and I made a little weekend trip to Lake Erie. My sister-in-law threw me a fantastic baby shower. I finally convinced my doctor that scratching my skin off was not 'normal'.

July: I was 8 months pregnant and finally diagnosed with Cholestasis, a liver/gallbladder dysfunction induced by the pregnancy that was causing my severe itching. Jeremy and I had maternity pics done (and just in time too). I was going in every other day to have non-stress tests and ultrasounds done and at 36 weeks they found that my fluid was low and I was put into the hospital. Two steroid shots, 3 days of inducing my labor and one c-section later Henry was born at exactly 37 weeks. Brandon was home for a week and got to hold Henry the night he was born.

August: I took way to many pictures of Henry and did my best to enjoy being a new mommy. The world lost a beautiful soul as my grandmother's best friend made her home in heaven. We all went to the fair with Allison and Ethan!

September: I took way too many pictures of Henry and he started grinning that gummy grin that I just love. The world lost a very special man as my Great Uncle Coy made his home in heaven. We made a quick trip to Virginia for the funeral and family time. I went back to work and Brandon left the United States for Afghanistan. I became addicted to Pinterest and Jeremy had some teeth cut out which lead to months of endless suffering for him.

October: Henry went trick or treating for the first time. Jeremy celebrated his 29th birthday and I celebrated my 24th. I started crocheting! Henry laughed for the first time and it was possibly the most wonderful thing I had ever heard. Jeremy and I saw Third Day and Tenth Avenue North at Hobart. The Poop Song entered our lives and Jeremy bought me several new lenses for my camera.

November: I took on my first crochet orders and started my own little business. A kitten followed the dog into the house one morning that we named Biscuit. I got rid of him about a week later. Holly, Allison and I went and saw Breaking Dawn. We celebrated Thanksgiving numerous times and then I put up the Christmas tree.

December: I had my first give-away and so many orders that I still haven't finished them all. Henry and I had a sleep-over at grannie's house. Henry, Jeremy and I made a little day trip to the Newport Aquarium. Jeremy and I celebrated 3 wonderful years of marriage and then celebrated Christmas with our families.

Christmas

I have to say that Christmas was the best that I think it's ever been in a very long time this year. There's something about having your own little family that makes the holidays different and Jeremy and I enjoyed waking up Sunday morning and sitting in front of our tree taking turns opening presents and helping Henry open his. His eyes would light up at the bright colored toys and he would just stare, it was perfect.

He threw a fit the rest of the day. I think it was just to loud at grandma and grandpas for him. We had a great time at both family's Christmas' and we were spoiled rotten this year. Jeremy's sister bought us a new Wii and we each got several games to go with it for one another. His parents bought me two frame sets that will fill every wall in my living room. Jeremy got me a wireless remote for my camera as well as a Snuggie and a mint set from the year I was born. We had bought Henry one this year as well and although we know he won't appreciate it until he's much older, our hope is to buy him some special piece of money each year. Henry bought Jeremy a personalized coffee mug to take to work with him each day and I got Jeremy his concealed carry class. My grandmother got Henry an exersaucer and she got us a new vacuum cleaner. Like I said, spoiled!

We tried out best not to focus on presents this year though. We tried to focus on loving and giving as a family and celebrating the birth of our Savior. I am a little sad that I'll have to take my tree down soon, I feel like it was extra special this year...maybe because I had so much fun putting it up and watching Henry play with the bulbs and decorations. I'm looking forward to the new year and all that it will bring. I am so thankful for all that I've been blessed with and I know God will continue to bless me ten fold.

Anna

I met a woman at work on Sunday that absolutely broke my heart. It took everything in me to hold back tears after our conversation and she was pretty much all I talked about for the rest of the day.

She came in to order carpet. I had a hard time understanding her, she had a thick accent and her English was poor. After repeating herself many times, I finally gathered enough information to help her pick out what she wanted and get her order ready for delivery and installation. In the meantime, she never stopped talking.

She came to the United States in 1985 from the Czech Republic. She married her husband that year, had two wonderful children and then lost her husband in '92. She has a daughter who lives in Tennessee and a son that lives in Piqua. She lives in Pleasant Hill, surprisingly, just a block over from us.

She kept repeating that she was all alone and that while she wanted to do things on her own, she always struggled with them. Her reasoning for getting carpet was that she was getting too old to get down on her knees and scrub her vinyl floor. She was 90 years old. I asked her if her son ever came down to help her and she told me no, he is always to busy.

It broke my heart.

She went on to tell me that she still mows her own lawn and that she's proud to still do as much as she can. I told her that was good, it was good to keep moving and doing as long as she could. We had a great conversation and I learned a lot of about her but before she started to leave, she asked me to come see her. She told me that she was so lonely and would love the company. I told her I would and I will.

I hope to have made a new friend but I hate hearing stories like hers. She is here all alone, her family living overseas and her family to busy to come see and help her. I have to wonder how so many people go on in their daily lives leaving the thoughts of their elders behind. If it were not for them, we would not be here. They nurtured us and our parents growing up, they worked hard their entire lives just to become old and forgotten. It's so, so sad.

I've spent a good portion of my life with the elderly. I make it a point to go see my grandmother at least once a week and while I'm there, we usually try to visit others who are older and can't get out and about or do things on their own. I have seen how their eyes light up when someone walks in the room. I have heard them cry and beg that you come back and see them again soon.

If only more people would realize how much ten minutes can mean to them. If they would just sit to listen to the stories and life experiences they can share with you. It would make your life so richer and rewarding. I am so excited to get to know Anna more. I can only imagine the stories that she will be able to tell, the pictures she can share and the lessons that she's learned over the years. I'm hoping to make it down there this week with a big plate of cookies. They probably won't be as good as hers, but I know that it will brighten her day in the greatest of ways.

That's That

There is a part of my life that I often try to forget. There are years of not-so-pleasant memories that I've tucked away into a place that I try my best not to visit. But then there are days that it becomes completely unavoidable, I am shoved into that back room and forced to stare the ugly situation straight in the face.

Today I was asked to visit my mother. I've been asked to visit my mother before, but I guess it was such a surprise today that it completely shocked me back into the reality that the parts of my life that I have no control over are a complete mess. It's bothered me all day to the point that I'm still awake now thinking about it.

I guess what bugs me the most about it all is that I feel like I have to explain why I've decided to do what I do. I hate that I can't just say no and people will just understand why. I don't hate my mother. I'm not angry at her or upset by her anymore. Sure, there are days that I feel abandoned and saddened by the fact that I don't have a mother to turn to but most days, I'm absolutely fine. It never even crosses my mind.

It's just at this point in my life, I feel like I've worked hard to create a life of stability. I lived for so many years without any stability at all and most of that was not my own fault, but at the fault of my parents, especially my mother.

I vowed that I wouldn't allow that for my own children. I will not put them in situations where I feel sure that they will be hurt. I will not willingly shove them into the instability that I was surrounded by. If that means them having one less grandparent, then so be it. It's better to not know someone than to know and come to love someone just for them to hurt you over and over again.

Eventually putting yourself in that situation makes that hurt your own fault instead of theirs and when it comes to my children, it would be mine.

So there, I've explained myself. No is no. I won't change my mind and I will do my best not to feel guilty when I have to say no. I believe in forgiveness, I believe that people change, but I also believe that the choices you make have consequences. I'm just doing my best to love, protect and give the very best to my children. I mean really, do you blame me?

A Splashin' Good Time

Jeremy, Henry and I went to the Newport Aquarium yesterday as a little day out. Jeremy and I used to do little things like this all the time together and we've been so excited to start showing out little man all the wonderful things there are in the world.

He was just entranced by all of the bright colored fish and aquariums although towards the end, I think he was starting to get bored with it all. He did so well though! It took us several hours to get through and he never fussed once.

The Pufferfish were my favorite and this little guy was so friendly. It followed Jeremy's fingers up one end of the tank and back down the other, if we ever have a salt-water aquarium one day, I will definitely have to have one! There was so much to see and learn and being the people we are (especially Jeremy) we read most every sign through the place.

There was a lot to learn! I loved seeing all the different frogs too although I have to be honest, most of them were huge and disgusting and ugly. I'm so excited to take Henry back in the coming years when he's a little older and can appreciate and learn from the experience more.

The penguins were Jeremy's favorite. He loved watching them jump straight up out of the water and I have to admit that I had a good laugh or two watching them myself. It's amazing how fast they can swim! They're little show offs too. After the aquarium we went to Red Robin for dinner. Jeremy had never been there and I think he enjoyed it as much as I told him he would.

We all had such a good time and it was so nice to get out as a family. I love the life I have, God has blessed me beyond measure with a wonderful husband and son. I look forward to this coming year and experiencing even more as a family.

Christmas: Santa vs Christ

I've had a huge struggle these past few weeks with the thought of teaching Henry in the coming years what Christmas is all about. It's weighed so heavy on my heart and mind that I've decided to reach out to you, my Christian friends, for some advice on how you handled your children at this time of the year when they were growing up.

I want him to know that Christmas is Christ's birthday. I want him to hear the Christmas story every year and know that this is the true reason why we celebrate. I've already decided that each year he will only receive three gifts from Jeremy and I; as Christ received three gifts from the wisemen. I've also decided that I'd like to start the tradition of making cupcakes the night before and singing 'Happy Birthday' to Jesus Christmas morning and allowing my children to each blow out a candle for Him. These are things I am sure of, things Jeremy and I have discussed and agree upon and are excited to start as our own family traditions.

Where I am struggling is how to introduce Santa Claus without taking away and confusing my children with what Christmas is all about. I don't want to take the 'magic' of Santa away from Henry and any future children we may have, but I'm just not sure how to incorporate both into Christmas. One just seems to take away from the other. I hate that. I hate that our country is so wrapped up in things that are so far from the true meaning that I have to seriously worry about how to keep the true meaning of Christmas in my children's hearts without depriving them of what every other child around them is celebrating.

So really I want your opinions. I want to know what you think about it all and how you taught your children growing up what Christmas was truly about while also incorporating Santa into it all. I'll really appreciate any of your input!

Well hello there December!

December has snuck up on us quicker than what I ever imagined it would. Our tree is up and shining in front of the living room window and we've even had our first snow. I suppose every year I get to this point and ask, "where did the time go?" and this year is no different. It seems like every day goes by faster than the last and with a busy life, it's sometimes hard to remember to cherish the small moments.

I've got so many plans and ideas and hopes and dreams for every day, every week, every month and I usually only get about half of them done. There are just not enough hours in a day. I am so excited for some upcoming events though. We are hoping for baby #2 in this next year (like we didn't already have our hands full!) and next weekend will be Jeremy's last day at his second job so he will be home with Henry every day on the weekends. We will be looking at a home that is going on the market this coming spring and taking Henry on his very first vacation. My little crochet business is coming along so well and I've booked two weddings and an engagement session this coming year. I'm sure 2012 will go just as fast as 2011 but I'm looking forward to it. I'm so excited to watch Henry grow and learn and establishing our own little family with it's own little traditions and memories. Overall, life really couldn't be much better. I am so very blessed!